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Hospital Bag List

To save you trawling through the site or other threads here is a list of things which you MAY want to include in your hospital bag. I appreciate that it's pretty long and you may need several suitcases to fit it all in so do remember that you don't have to take ALL of this stuff if you don't think you'll need it..... As more suggestions come up I'll edit this initial list so that it's always easy to read/print off.

For You
Nightie for labouring (cheap and cheerful, likely to be blood/wee/poo/amniotic fluid covered - Matalan £3 night shirts are ideal)Nice Nighties (pref with buttons for feeding)
Dressing gownSlippersWarm socks (in case your feet get cold during labour)
1 or 2 x packs of Always Nightime (these are extra long pads)
1x pack of breastpads
2 x packs of disposable knickers (you either love 'em or hate 'em! but I liked to go to the loo, wash and chuck the knickers and pad in the bin)
12 x Normal knickers (if that's your preference)
Flannel (cold for cooling sweaty brows during labour or hot to lay over achey backs/tums )
Straws for drinking between contractions
Lip Balm Moisturiser
Shampoo
Conditioner
Body wash
Sponge/Body Mop/Flannel
ToothbrushToothpaste
RazorBrush/Comb
Make up (not essential but nice for pictures after birth )Bobbles/clips/headbands
Flip Flops for showers (not essential)
Lansinoh Nipple cream (quite expensive at £10 per tube so maybe take your hubby to Boots and show him where it is in case you need any of it)

Magicool spray (godsend for Chilli!)

1 x Large Towel (dark colour for showering, may get blood on it)
1x Small Towel (for your hands/face/hair)
Plastic jug (to pour tepid water over yourself during or after every wee, keeps the area nice and clean, takes the sting out of weeing after a tear or graze)
Kitchen Roll (to pat yourself dry after washing yourself as above. easier, more hygenic and less messy than using a towel)

For Baby
Cotton Wool Pleat or large discs (balls are too small when wiping massive sticky poos)
Baby Bath/Wash (not essential, can make some babies spotty/rashy)
Talc (not essential, matter of choice)
6 x All in one suits
6 x VestsScratch mits (unless you have the sleepsuits with hands in from Matalan)
Cardi
Blanket
Pack Newborn Nappies Pack Nappy Sacks (not essential)
Baby Wipes (not essential, can give some babies spotty botties and encourage rashes)
Dummies (not essential)
Teddy (ahhhhh )
Outfit to come home in
Hat to come home in

For DH/DP
Does DH know the way to hospital? If not entirely familiar then a map of the area in case of roadworks, diversions or other unforseen circumstances. Also handy if DH isn't the one taking you to the hospital in the end .
Money (might as well get him used to being a Dad eh? )
Magazine or bookWater/Juice/Pop
Something to eat that's not chocolate, a savoury snack to keep his energy levels up.
Mobile PhoneCamera
Ipod (to drown out your screams.... kidding!!! )
A few toiletries if he's planning on staying for the long haul.
Clean tshirt/boxers/socksA list of your important numbers to phone after the birth.

Yes the list is a bit *ahem* comprehensive but if you're like me who worries that they will forget something then it's good to have all bases covered.

In the very last stages of labour at home I was asking my sister to make sure my warm socks were in my hospital bag 'just in case' I ended up going there. 8-9-10 centimetres and I was going on about socks and hospital bags.

What a great list! Thanks! Mind you i have packed less than that already and my enormous bag looks like i'm expacting to stay for the month! No way i could drag it into hospital on my own thats for sure! lol! Anyway, i'm going to have to minimise mine so its a bit more manageable .....so any advice on what i could leave out would be appreciated!
By the way today is my due date...and despite everyone thinking (including me!) she was going to make her entrance early....i'm still waiting! I dont mind in the least as i am still painting and decorating anyway!

She also went into a private hospital in London for an elective section. I doubt she was on an understaffed ward in a six bed bay with a payphone at the end of the corridor which she would have to shuffle to if she forgot or needed something

It's up to you really, it would be useful to have everything you need by about 34 ish weeks, even if it's not packed at least it's there. So yes, starting to get things together about 30 weeks sounds a good idea, at least yuo won;t be rushing around at the last minute.

(I'm not a good example to ask really though......having had ds at 30 weeks and not having brought ANYTHING except a pushchair...had to send a friend out to buy pads, nighties etc- so it's good to be prepared!!)

Not as daft as it sounds though really. He should think about taking some snacks and drinks for himself. Maybe even a change of clothes and toiletries in case you're in a looong time and he doesn't want to leave you to get freshened up and be on top form.

He's getting a bit concerned that he won't have enough food ! He says he's got to keep his strength up ! Might start stocking up on some goodies for him. it just made me laugh when he said "what about me" with a really sad look on his face !

Csam, Rivka's right. In fact I think I'll edit my original post to include some things for DHs and DPs to have ready.

Shaz, you really cannot leave the dog in the hospital car park while you're in labour. It will likely be reported to the hospital by other concerned car park users and even if not it's very unfair to lock a dog in a car for this length of time. Besides that, what if you have a traumatic labour, meaning that you need the support of your husband while he's out with the dog OR what if your DH misses the birth because he's outside? It's far from ideal, I do hope you will reconsider for everyone's sake.

They do provide towels but sometimes the laundry department don't provide enough for everyone on the ward. Also hopsital towels are not the softest! When DD was born, the ward was so hot she didn't need a blanket, I think she just had a sheet.

Hospital bag bargains

I was in Primark at the weekend and they have some great nighties in. They are just the big t shirt type ones, but loose and made of cotton so great for labour. They have buttons int he front to just below boob level so a great for breastfeeding. And they are only £4 each so if they get a bit messy, you can just chuck them away.

They also have packs of 6 pairs of cotton kickers for £2. I can't find disposable ones cheaper than that so I got a pack (Yeah, I know I'm only 18 weeks, but there's nothing like being organised). You can chuck 'am if they get a bit bloody, or they might well wash ok and last you years.

Oh, and whilst we're on the subject, Bounty kitchen roll has been recommended to me instead of wipes/cotton wool. No nasty chemicals to irritate baby's bums, its easier to use than fiddly pieces of cotton wool and you can wring it out. Apparently its easier if you have it ready torn into sheets in a box than use it off the roll - a job for daddy.

There are good recipies for homemade babywipes on the net. I remember someone using a camomile infusion and jaycloths for washable ones but I don't see why kitchen roll wouldn't work just as well.

Kitchen roll is the most underestimated of all baby 'must haves'. It's great for drying your own bits after labour, for putting under baby's bot on cold changing mats, for catching puke, stemming the flow of a squirty nipple and probably a hundred other things.

Quoted

Originally posted by Michelle

Can i still wear a nighty.....don't have to be naked do i?
Sorry

You CAN do whatever you want and you don't HAVE to do anything you don't want to. You're only going into hospital because you have chosen to. It's not school or work, there are no teachers, managers or bosses, you're in charge of your visit, nobody else. If you choose to wear a duffel coat you can but I warn you, they do get heavy when they're wet.

can vouch for those primark nighties...used one last 2 times and have one for this time too...actually managed to keep the one from last time as it washed just fine, but at 4 quid, I figured I'd splash out and get a new one :sniggerid Primark pants too mrs.Jasper, as I didn't fancy the disposable ones, and figured at that price they can be disposable anyhow! The hand towels from Primark are lovely and fluffy and cosy for a new baby too...and of course cheap, so no big deal if they get poo/puke on...can recommend ...just the right size to lay on change mat too to keep baby bottom cozy during changes

A friend of mine got her mother in law to knit her some leg warmers so that she could wear them for the birth - she was that upset about having to expose her fat thighs !!! Actually - guess what, when it came to labour, being slightly chubby was the last thing on her mind and she showed all !!! Made me laugh

Does anyone know where I can get biodegradable maternity pads from? I've looked at mothercare, boots, Green baby and some other eco friendly parenting sites but can't find them.

Also whilst we're on the subject (ok, whilst I'M on the subject), I visit a practice nursing forum and there is a thread on vaginal discharge and the general consensus (from former midwives) is that new mums who use Always towels have more infections. Can't vouch for it personally, but something to bear in mind.

Thats interesting Mrs J( If interesting is the right word when talking about vaginal discharge!) I wonder if it's the plastic backing causing warmth, moisture etc leading to possible infection or is it just coincidence do you think?
Any how as for biodegradable pads- i'm not sure, have you looked at these ?